Feedback

July 26, 2001

* Connie, Gloucester: Jim Spencer's column in Wednesday's paper is excellent and should be read by everyone ... parents, read it to your children ... cut it out and put it on the refrigerator ... this is just the type of reality we need to counteract the constant violent garbage that our kids are bombarded with on a daily basis ...way to go Jim!

* Ev, Hampton: Let's revive the debate on "B.C." I agree. Now we have a new editor he may have a broader outlook and not find it offensive. The new comics are just a bit too juvenile. Let's hear it from the "B.C." fans.

Editor's response: Let's not.

* I cannot believe that you would put a half-page on the front-page of the newspaper. Surely you people must realize how very annoying it is to have this piece flapping around. If I were an advertiser, I'd cancel my ad.

Editor's response: It's called a spadia in the newspaper business and we promise not to do it too often.

* John, Newport News: I am calling to tell you how much I enjoy your paper and how special you made us feel. We went on vacation this week and we asked that the paper be stopped one day and started on the next. It was a real pleasure to come home and find a bag with all the papers that we asked to be stopped delivered and a nice envelope and with all the coupons. It made us feel really good about your paper. Thank you very much.

Editor's response: The thanks goes to your carrier. We are blessed with some very good ones.

* Angie, Newport News: Just calling about the article about Jason Clark's military school working for him. This is another example of how the military can turn out troubled and undisciplined teens into responsible disciplined young men and women. Great article.

* Re editor's response to the meter's item. Your last sentence, "Meters are just a hair less than three inches longer than yards, which makes 328 feet the correct figure." 328 feet is the correct figure, but meters are 39.37 inches long, which means they are a little more than three inches longer than a yard. If you're going to correct someone, why don't you correct him correctly?

Editor's response: Good catch, and a case in which splitting hairs makes a difference.

* Sandy, Newport News: I guess I am missing something in today's perception of humor in comics. I am quite honestly surprised that after the voluminous public outcry to the B.C. comic, that no one has responded to Sunday's Baby Blues comic. I do not consider myself prudish or ignorant to politically correct statements. I do, however, find it in poor taste to devote a family oriented comic to medically discuss a woman's uterus. Secondly, I can, and I assume a few other readers can, think of a part of a man's anatomy that can also expand to many times its normal size then shrink back to normal while, during or before a child is conceived. Need I say more? Finally, do you really think that most readers whether young or old really know the word "conundrum?" Maybe it should be asked in the next round of SOLs.

Editor's response: An unscientific poll showed two women, who also are mothers and who were standing nearby at the time this item was considered by the editor, were unfazed by the Baby Blues comic on the uterus. As for conundrum, your comment left us nonplused.

* I wish that your reporter, Terry Scanlon, had told the rest of the story on the Republican nomination for the House of Delegates. This selection farce has nothing to do with qualifications or conflicts of interest, but is determined solely by the number of friends you can bring to the party. Fortunately, the voters will make an unbiased choice in the general election. Incidentally, since you refer to all Republicans as political activists, does that mean that all Democrats are political pacifists?

Editor's response: Scanlon covered what happened at the meeting. Having friends in politics never hurts, that's for sure. As for voters making an unbiased choice, that's certainly not always the case. And the reference to activists, according to a close rereading of the story, was intended to refer to Oder and Stall, not all Republicans.

* Dave: To Mr. Spencer: It's too bad that Brady as in the Brady Law did not push capital punishment for gun violence. He would've done something if he did.

* Marc, Hampton: Thanks for running R. Cort Kirkwood's column, at least one guy says it like it is. Since your paper is so liberal, I don't expect it to run very long.

* I see in this morning's paper that Jim Spencer is at it again - another anti-gun column. I was hoping the new editor would make him get some new material. This is the umpteenth time he's written against the NRA and guns. Hopefully, someone will give him some direction and give him something to write about. These repeat columns are getting old whether it's against Gov. Gilmore or guns are getting old. Jim, get some new material.